Hugh Schofield
BBC News, Paris

This dirty water story is getting to be an embarrassment for
all involved – the Olympics organisers, the city of Paris and the French
government.

We were led to believe that the Seine would be ready for
swimming by the time of the Games, thanks to a massive investment of 1.4
billion euros.

Persistently negative tests in the past months were put down
to rainy spring weather. That plus the fact that the massive underground
holding reservoir near Austerlitz station – a key part of the solution – had
yet to come on stream.

But now it is high summer and the Austerlitz
reservoir is operating. And still the water is not clean enough.

Worse, it’s been revealed that on the day that city mayor
Anne Hidalgo took her famous dip – 17 July – pollution levels were too high for
bathing. Her explanation is that authorisation decisions are based on
previous days’ results, which were positive.

It all begins to look like a massive exercise in
finger-crossing – which is not how major sporting events are supposed to be
run.

Which is a shame, because the big picture is that the river
Seine is infinitely cleaner than it was 25 years ago. Most of the
preparation for swimming has been achieved. The goal of opening the river for
public bathing is within sight.

Just perhaps not in time for the Olympics.